Bak regulates mitochondrial morphology and pathology during apoptosis by interacting with mitofusins

Craig Brooks, Qingqing Wei, Leping Feng, Guie Dong, Yanmei Tao, Lin Mei, Zi Jian Xie, Zheng Dong

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

301 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mitochondrial injury, characterized by outer membrane permeabilization and consequent release of apoptogenic factors, is a key to apoptosis of mammalian cells. Bax and Bak, two multidomain Bcl-2 family proteins, provide a requisite gateway to mitochondrial injury. However it is unclear how Bax and Bak cooperate to provoke mitochondrial injury and whether their roles are redundant. Here, we have identified a unique role of Bak in mitochondrial fragmentation, a seemingly morphological event that contributes to mitochondrial injury during apoptosis. We show that mitochondrial fragmentation is attenuated in Bak-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts, baby mouse kidney cells, and, importantly, also in primary neurons isolated from brain cortex of Bak-deficient mice. In sharp contrast, Bax deficiency does not prevent mitochondrial fragmentation during apoptosis. Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL inhibit mitochondrial fragmentation, and their inhibitory effects depend on the presence of Bak. Reconstitution of Bak into Bax/Bak double-knockout cells restores mitochondrial fragmentation, whereas reconstitution of Bax is much less effective. Bak interacts with Mfn1 and Mfn2, two mitochondrial fusion proteins. During apoptosis, Bak dissociates from Mfn2 and enhances the association with Mfn1. Mutation of Bak in the BH3 domain prevents its dissociation from Mfn2 and diminishes its mitochondrial fragmentation activity. This study has uncovered a previously unrecognized function of Bak in the regulation of mitochondrial morphological dynamics during apoptosis. By this function, Bak may collaborate with Bax to permeabilize the outer membrane of mitochondria, unleashing the apoptotic cascade.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)11649-11654
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume104
Issue number28
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 10 2007

Keywords

  • Bax
  • Bcl-2
  • Cytochrome c
  • Mitochondria

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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